Anaemia- Symptoms, Causes and Diet Home Remedies

Anaemia is not a new term for common people, a large number of whom suffer from this blood hemoglobin related disease. What is Anemia? Let’s not only know what is anemia but also the symptoms, causes and home remedies including diet remedies for anemia.

What is Anaemia?

Our blood is made up of different components, one of which is red blood cells. They carry oxygen to the tissues. Red blood cells are made up of, among other things, iron, proteins and vitamins, especially folic acid and vitamin B12. Of these raw materials of red blood cells, iron and proteins are extensively needed for making haemoglobin (which also gives the red color to our blood). Once made, the red blood cells die in about 120 days or 4 months. About 100 million new blood cells are formed every day in our bone marrows. An average person should have a blood count of about 5 million red blood cells per millimeter. Haemoglobin should be present in the blood in sufficient amounts (average is 15 gm to 100 cc of blood). When there is a drop in the haemoglobin in blood, it results into anaemia.

Symptoms of Anaemia

Symptoms of anemia are very common conditions, and therefore, overlooked sometimes leading to chronic anemic state due to lack of proper treatment and diet.

Weakness and lack of energy

Fatigue

Dizziness

Premature wrinkles

Pale skin

Dull and tired eyes

Poor memory

Shortness of breath even while doing light work.

Headache

Delayed healing of wounds

Palpitation

Mental stress and depression

In acute or chronic anemia, the nails too get brittle and sores might develop at the corners of mouth.

Causes of Anaemia

The major cause of anemia is the inadequate production of red blood cells in our bone marrow which can be due to some defect in the bone marrow or due to insufficient intake of iron, vitamins and protein through diet. However, there are other causes of anaemia too. These include the following

Heavy loss of blood which can be due to any reason- injury, bleeding piles, or excessive bleeding during menstruation in women

Digestive complications leading to indigestion of iron and proteins. Lack of digestive acid (hydrochloric acid) which is required for digestion of iron and proteins.

Emotional or mental strain or anxiety. This can hamper proper formation of blood components.

Intestinal worms or parasites like hookworms, pinworms, roundworms and tapeworms that feed on blood.

Genetic blood diseases such as sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia etc.

Failure of body to absorb vitamin B12 from foods which is known as pernicious anaemia.

Diet Home Remedies for Anaemia

Foods are the main ingredients that ensure proper supply of iron, vitamins, proteins and folic acid for proper and sufficient formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin. So, here are some dietary remedies for anaemia. These have been divided into two parts- foods recommended to treat anaemia and foods to be avoided by the anaemia patient.

Diet for Anaemia

Here is a comprehensive list of food items that are particularly beneficial in treating anaemia.

It is also essential to make sure that whatever iron and vitamin B12 gets into your body is absorbed well by it. Ascorbic acid facilitates absorption of iron and thus foods rich in ascorbic acid should also be included in diet to treat anemia. Citrus fruits have good quantity of this acid.

Bananas and Beets for Anemia Treatment

Why banana and beats are specially mentioned as a good remedy for anemia? Because they are extremely important for curing anaemia due to their contents. Bananas have easily assimilable nutrients namely iron, folic acid and B12.